Herdwick sheep
Sturdy, not too big and not too small. Gray, with a white head and white strong legs, two dark mischievous eyes, and always calm and friendly...
these are Herdwicks!
Herdwick sheep originally come from the Lake District in England, where they have been kept in the fells, the higher pastures in the mountains, for over
1000 years.
The breed's name 'Herdwick' is derived from the Old Norse word herdvyck, which means sheep pasture. Herdwicks were probably brought to England by the Vikings from Scandinavia between the 10th and 11th centuries.
The conditions in the Lake District have produced a sheep that is hardy, frugal, and self-reliant. They can survive well on the limited quality food available on the mountain slopes. The Lake District is one of the wettest areas in England, with an average of 2000mm of rainfall. Against this rain, cold, and wind, the Herdwicks have a double coat: a heavy dense outer coat of coarse hairs, with an undercoat of fine wool.
Herdwick sheep do not like being indoors; they prefer to be outside all year round, regardless of the weather. A unique characteristic of the Herdwicks is their innate tendency to bond with their birthplace. This is called hefting.
Breed Description
Herdwicks are born completely black, but within a few months, their heads and legs turn white. The fleece develops a beautiful chocolate color during the first year. After the first shearing, the gray-blue color appears, while the head and legs remain white.
The Herdwick is not a large sheep: the rams weigh up to 80 kilos, and the ewes up to around 55 kilos. They have a square build, a deep chest, a short middle, and strong, sturdy legs. Although they are not large, the Herdwick looks tough and robust. Especially the rams, which often have beautiful outwardly curved horns. In winter, they have a heavily haired neck with long manes.
Herdwicks van de Westkust
Sheepflock 'de Westkust' is located in Ouddorp, at the tip of the island Goeree-Overflakkee, more than 500 kilometers away from the birthplace of the Herdwicks. At Stal de Westkust, the well-being of the sheep is paramount. We breed on a hobbyist and small-scale basis to preserve the Herdwick breed in
The Netherlands.
Our flock consists of about 20 ewes. None of the lambs are sent to slaughter; they are only sold to trusted homes where we have confidence in their care. For us, the intrinsic value of the animal comes first, and we care for them with love and respect.
Herdwick wool
For the well-being of the Herdwick sheep, they are sheared every year. We do this ourselves in a calm and sheep-friendly manner. Herdwick wool is a wonderful product that we spin, weave, and felt into beautiful Westkust Woolcreations.
This way, the wool is not wasted and finds a beautiful new purpose.
Additionally, we offer a special series, Westkust Wool&Cats, with cat rugs and natural toys for cats, as well as Westkust Wool&Dogs, featuring rugs for dog beds.
